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Pokémon Crystal
Open the Pokémon Crystal PokédexBuy a repro of this gameTested by us
Game Boy Color onlyGen 2251 PokémonReal-time clock

Pokémon Crystal

Region
Johto (and Kanto)
Main story
32-38 hours
Completionist
75-95 hours

Version siblings: Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver

Overview

The definitive Gen 2 release and the first Pokémon game exclusive to the Game Boy Color. Crystal adds animated Pokémon sprites, a focused Suicune storyline, and the first-ever choice of a female player character.

It keeps everything from Gold and Silver, two regions, the real-time clock and breeding, and polishes it. You clear Johto's eight gyms and the Elite Four, then take on Kanto's eight gyms and Red on Mt. Silver.

If you only play one Johto game, play this. Trade with Gold or Silver to round out the 251-entry dex.

Gyms & Elite Four

Gym Leaders

Gym Leaders with types and tips
LeaderTypeTip
FalknerFlyingRock and Electric clip his wings. An early Geodude walks straight through this gym.
BugsyBugFire, Flying or Rock. His Scyther hits hard, so lead with a flyer or a Fire type.
WhitneyNormalHer Miltank is Gen 2's famous wall. Rollout grows each hit and Attract locks down opposite-gender attackers, so bring a female or genderless hitter with a Fighting move and paralyse the Miltank to break Rollout's rhythm.
MortyGhostBring Dark moves (Bite or Crunch). His Gengar leans on Hypnosis and Dream Eater, so pack Awakenings.
ChuckFightingPsychic and Flying beat Fighting. A Psychic type or a flyer with Wing Attack wins easily.
JasmineSteelFire, Fighting or Ground. Her Steelix melts to Surf or Earthquake.
PryceIceFire, Fighting, Rock or Steel. His Piloswine is weak to almost everything you'd bring; just avoid getting frozen.
ClairDragonIce is king. Her Kingdra only fears Dragon moves in Gen 2, so over-level and spam strong special attacks.

Elite Four & Champion

Elite Four & Champion with types and tips
LeaderTypeTip
WillPsychicDark moves and strong physical hits; his Xatu is frail.
KogaPoisonPsychic and Ground. Watch for Toxic stalling and carry antidotes or just hit hard.
BrunoFightingPsychic and Flying. His Onix and Steelix fear Water and Grass.
KarenDarkFighting and Bug. Her Houndoom fears Water and Rock; her Umbreon stalls, so bring real punch.
Lance (Champion)DragonIce and Electric. His three Dragonite spam Hyper Beam and Blizzard; Ice Beam and a strong Electric for the Gyarados and Aerodactyl win it.

Recommended team

  • Your starter

    Feraligatr and Typhlosion carry hardest; Meganium struggles against Johto's early gyms.

  • The red Gyarados

    A free, strong, story Pokémon from the Lake of Rage. Don't knock it out, it's a one-time catch.

  • Ampharos

    A Mareep is available very early on Route 32; Ampharos answers Water and Flying all game.

  • Crobat

    Evolve a Zubat at high friendship into a fast, strong Flying type that also carries Fly.

  • Espeon

    Evolve a happy Eevee during the day for a superb special attacker.

  • Suicune

    In Crystal you catch Suicune as a fixed story encounter; Surf and bulk make it a great sixth.

Capture tips

  • Status first: sleep or paralysis raises catch rate a lot and stops Pokémon fleeing.
  • The red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage is a fixed, unusually coloured catch. Save before the encounter so you don't lose it.
  • Suicune is a fixed encounter after its story in Crystal, while Raikou and Entei roam and flee; Mean Look plus a sleep move pins the roamers.
  • For Ho-Oh in the Tin Tower and Lugia in the Whirl Islands: save, bring sleep or paralysis, and a stack of Ultra Balls.
  • Drop HP into the red and use Great or Ultra Balls on anything tough.

Time and day

This cartridge has a real-time clock, so the in-game world follows morning, day and night. Some Pokémon only appear at certain times, specific trainers and events run on set weekdays, and friendship evolutions split by time, an Eevee levelled up with high friendship becomes Espeon during the day and Umbreon at night. Set the clock accurately when you start, and keep the RTC battery healthy to avoid event glitches.

Save & hardware notes

  • Gen 2 cartridges have two batteries: one for the save file and a separate one for the real-time clock.
  • When the RTC battery dies you'll see the 'time events have stopped' glitch. It can be swapped independently of the save battery.
  • Check a save the usual way: new game, save, power off, power back on. Back up with a GBxCart RW before any battery work.

Tips

  • The real-time clock drives day/night encounters and weekly events, so set it carefully.
  • Espeon evolves from a happy Eevee levelled up during the day; Umbreon at night. Plan which you want.
  • The Battle Tower, added in Crystal, is great end-game training once you've built a competitive team.

Trivia

  • Crystal was the first main-series game to feature animated front sprites for every Pokémon.
  • Only Crystal, among Gen 2, requires a Game Boy Color; it will not boot on an original Game Boy.